Clavicipitaceae

Clavicipitaceae
The Clavicipitaceae are a family of fungi within the order Hypocreales. A 2008 estimate placed 43 genera in the family, but a study in 2020 has increased this number to 50.
Phylogeny
Molecular phylogenetic analysis of multigene DNA sequence data indicates the taxon Clavicipitaceae is paraphyletic, and consists of three well-defined clades, at least one of which is shared with members of another fungal family (Hypocreaceae). The evolution within the Clavicipitaceae is marked by interkingdom host jumping, and the range of this large and heterogeneous fungal group spans mutualistic plant symbionts, as well as parasites of plants, insects, and other fungi.
Significance
Many of its members produce alkaloids toxic to animals and humans. One of its most infamous species is Claviceps purpurea, which has historical significance as the cause of St. Anthony's fire, also known as ergotism. Ergotism is caused by ergot alkaloids, such as ergotamine and ergocristine, which are chemical derivatives of lysergic acid. Metarhizium species are widely used in the biological control of insect pests.
Genera
Several genera, especially those previously described as "anamorphic" (having no known sexual cycle) are now re-classified into other families, in light of current molecular and other evidence. Mycobank currently (July 2018) lists the following genera in this family. With additions (including no. of species) from Wijayawardene et al. 2020.
Aciculosporium (4)
Akrophyton
Albomyces
Allocordyceps
Aschersonia (170+)
Atkinsonella (2)
Atricordyceps
Balansia (49)
Balansiella
Balansiopsis
Barya
Baryella
Belaina
Berkelella
Blistum
Byssostilbe
Campylothecium
Cavimalum (2)
Cepsiclava
Chromostylium
Claviceps (111)
Collarina (1)
Commelinaceomyces (4)
Conoideocrella (3)
Corallocytostroma (2)
Cordycepioideus
Cordylia
Corynesphaera
Diheterospora
Dothichloe
Drechmeria
Dubiomyces
Dussiella (3)
Echinodothis
Ephelis (4)
Epichloe (75)
Epicrea (1)
Ergotaetia
Fleischeria
Harposporium
Helicocollum (3)
Helminthascus (1)
Heteroepichloe (2)
Hypocrella
Hypocreophis
Hypoxylum
Keithomyces (3)
Kentrosporium
Konradia (2)
Linearistroma
Loculistroma (1)
Marquandomyces (1)
Metapochonia (6)
Metarhiziopsis (1)
Metarhizium (78) (includes Chamaeleomyces, Metacordyceps, Spatafora, Nomuraea and Stereocrea)
Mitosporium
Mitrasphaera
Moelleria
Moelleriella (57)
Morakotia
Mothesia
Mycomalus (1)
Mycophilomyces (1)
Myriogenis
Myriogenospora (4)
Neoaraneomyces
Neobarya (12)
Neoclaviceps
Neocordyceps (1)
Neotyphodium
Nigelia (2)
Nigrocornus (1)
Ophiodothis
Orbiocrella (1)
Palaeoclaviceps
Papiliomyces (2)
Parametarhizium
Parepichloe (4)
Periglandula (2)
Petchia (2)
Phytocordyceps
Pochonia (4)
Podocrella
Polistophthora
Polynema
Polyrhina
Pseudomeria (1)
Pseudometarhizium
Purpureomyces (3)
Racemella
Regiocrella (2)
Romanoa (1)
Rotiferophthora (27)
Samuelsia (6)
Shimizuomyces (2)
Spermoedia
Sphacelia
Sphaceliopsis
Sphaerocordyceps (2)
Sungia (1)
Tettigorhyza
Torrubia
Typhodium
Tyrannicordyceps (5)
Underwoodina
Ustilaginula
Ustilaginoidea (19)
Ustilagopsis
Villosiclava
Wakefieldiomyces
Xylariopsis
Yosiokobayasia (1)
References
Other sources
C.J. Alexopolous, Charles W. Mims, M. Blackwell et al., Introductory Mycology, 4th ed. (John Wiley and Sons, Hoboken NJ, 2004)
External links
Ascomycota families
Taxa named by Gustav Lindau